Yesterday I took a trip into the city for roving at the wool store.
Yup...I went roving for roving.
It was grey and stormy.
Chance of rain...150%.
I didn't mind though...after i had done my running around I settled
down in the window of a bakery cafe, book and camera at hand and glimpsed
at the wet world outside...
The book I just picked up is 'The Wild Places' by Robert MacFarlane.
It's an interesting study of his own search for genuine wild places.
His search begins in his own town of Cambridge, England and takes him
through Wales, Scotland and Ireland. He will climb, walk and swim in all sorts
of weather to understand the landscape and it's history in his search.
So far, so good. His writing is very evocative and full of the quest in understanding the natural world.
This day I was nowhere near the wilderness but in the hub of Victoria, a city I love.
If you live here on the coast, you must also certainly love the rain.
It may seem strange but true.
Although we huddle under umbrellas and rain gear, it is part of our lives
and as the saying goes in Ireland...
"there's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing".
Even when I was a letter carrier for 9 years, I didn't mind so much.
You get out there with your rain poncho, put up with silly comments and do the job.
But today I was glad to be inside, looking out...
...patio furniture left for a better day...
Oh, and the peanut butter Nanaimo bar for dessert didn't hurt matters!
The wind outside shook the trees...
...and the yellow cabs were busy, busy, busy. I counted 5 while sitting here...
It's an interesting study of his own search for genuine wild places.
His search begins in his own town of Cambridge, England and takes him
through Wales, Scotland and Ireland. He will climb, walk and swim in all sorts
of weather to understand the landscape and it's history in his search.
So far, so good. His writing is very evocative and full of the quest in understanding the natural world.
If you live here on the coast, you must also certainly love the rain.
Although we huddle under umbrellas and rain gear, it is part of our lives
and as the saying goes in Ireland...
"there's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing".
You get out there with your rain poncho, put up with silly comments and do the job.
Before I left for home, I decided to take a quick trip through Chinatown.
It was Chinese New Year a few weeks ago so some of the decorations were still up.
The weather quickly changed, as it does at this time of year, and the sun came out for me...
Love the silk lanterns!
So many colours...so many details...
At the top of every hour, a speaker plays Chinese music.
A look at the Benevolent Society from a different angle...
The old and the new...
The Chinese Public School is over a hundred years old and still educates primary age children...it's one of my favorite buildings around...
Public wall art depicting the changing times at the school..
A few of the old tenement buildings still inhabited...
...and a few not so much...
More public art on the walls of Chinatown...
February is the kind of month where the weather wears many different coats.
Spring-like sunny days with the bulbs coming in and days where the wind
can blow bitterly to the bone, flapping flags like crazy kites...
...and then just when I got home...
Another reason to love the rain!!
It was Chinese New Year a few weeks ago so some of the decorations were still up.
The weather quickly changed, as it does at this time of year, and the sun came out for me...
The beautiful Gate of Harmonious Interest frames our tiny Chinatown...
At the top of every hour, a speaker plays Chinese music.
Spring-like sunny days with the bulbs coming in and days where the wind
can blow bitterly to the bone, flapping flags like crazy kites...
